Jennifer Murgia: Angel Star

Garreth was nowhere to be seen and panic bled itself into my bones.

The fire was spreading. I saw the flames race past the clearing and out toward the road. The air rang with sirens and it felt like the whole town was on fire. I was spent, my legs refusing to move anymore. With my head pressed against the smooth, worn bark of our old tree, I began to sob uncontrollably. My chest was heavy with fatigue. All I could think of was Garreth, and suddenly the hole in my heart ripped all the way open with fear. Hadrian, it seemed, was gone for good, but in the end, I feared Garreth was gone as well.

I felt smoke weave itself around me, clouding my senses. I closed my eyes to the sweet song of the sirens and cried for my Guardian.

I let my head roll to the side as the room spun then slowed around me. At last I could make out white cabinets, a single gray chair, a commercial linoleum floor. I looked for the source of a sound that had been repeating itself in my ears, the constant hum of a machine in the room with me. It sounded like water flowing and briefly I envisioned it to be the contents of my heart pouring out of me. That would explain why I could no longer feel it.

A big metal box on legs was the culprit so I closed my eyes again, preferring sleep to wondering how I managed to be in the hospital. A shuffling sound joined the hum, and I forced my eyes to open.

“Hi, sweetie,” My mom leaned over me. She looked as if she hadn’t slept for a week. “The doctor will be in soon.”

I opened my mouth to speak but my lips felt all dry and cracked. I wanted to ask if anyone had found Garreth.

At the thought of his name, I couldn’t help but cry again.

“Oh, shhh. Don’t, honey, you’re going to be okay.” My mother glanced over her shoulder and stepped aside.

“Well, now, how’s our patient?”

I couldn’t see his face from where I lay but I saw a redness flush its way into my mom’s cheeks. He stepped into view, pausing to smile at my mother, then he lifted my right hand, which for some reason I failed to notice until now was bandaged heavily with white gauze. I looked at the doctor, then my mom, then back to the doctor again.

“I don’t need to tell you how lucky you are, young lady.

The whole town practically went up in flames last night and only your hand was injured. You’re a hero, you know,” he said, nodding his head.

Hero? Why am I a hero?

I wanted to interrupt and ask a zillion questions but I couldn’t get my tongue to reach the roof of my mouth to form the words. And, whenever I breathed too deeply, it felt like my chest was about to explode.

My mom’s gaze dropped to my wrapped hand. “Will there be much scarring?”

“Unfortunately, yes, but the burn looks sort of like a design. It will be a great battle wound to show to your friends.” The doctor went to the foot of the bed and began writing something down on my chart.

Battle wound. Good one.

The doctor looked up from his notes. “You’ll have the use of your hand back in no time. Just a few more weeks of school, huh? Almost time for graduation?”

“One more year,” my mom answered for me. She was keeping the conversation going with the doctor, happy to use me as an excuse.

“Junior, huh? I have a daughter your age.”

I strained my eyes to see his name tag but the last name didn’t ring a bell.

He continued. “I just don’t understand how you… All I have to say is, you’re both very lucky. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me. Get better, Teagan.

Okay?”

The doctor tapped the foot of my bed with his hand and stepped out of the room, but not without one final smile, which was obviously for my mother.

“What was that all about?” I finally managed to croak.

“I’m not really sure,” she admitted, but the look on her face told it all.

Change couldn’t be avoided any longer, and whether she was ready for it or not, life had a plan for my mom.

In sharing this weird little moment with her, my face inevitably fell and gloom filled me like helium.

“Not what you planned for a first date, was it?” She sat at the edge of the bed, fingering the scratchy hospital blanket.

I turned my head, my eyes were filling with tears again.

“Did the whole town really go up in flames?” I asked.

“Just some of it. Mostly fields, though. Bartlett’s skating rink is gone. The police are still investigating.”

My cheeks burned at the thought of having to admit I was the one responsible for the fire. Mentioning Hadrian and pleading insanity might work, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“The fire marshal thinks the cause was electrical.”

“Electrical?”

“You know, from that old warehouse where the kids have been hanging out? They should have torn down that dump long ago. I’m sure everyone will be happy when it’s finally gone.” She touched my cheek. “Are you thirsty? I’ll run down to the cafeteria for some tea, or maybe I can find a nurse around here.”

My mother was up and sticking her head out into the hallway before I could object, then she pulled it back in.

“I’ll be right back. Just close your eyes and rest.” And she was gone.

I did as I was told because there was nothing better to do. Instantly, I regretted it. My mind began to wander in the silence of the sterile room, searching for signs of Garreth. I had never felt so alone. I tried to will fluttering sounds to come from the corners of the little room, or perhaps from behind the curtain, but they wouldn’t come.

I was resigned to give up when I heard it. Faint but true.

I felt him near me. I smelled him, though it wasn’t his scent alone. It was mixed with the fire that had burned around us in the chapel, spicy, pungent, smoky — but still his. I wanted to open my eyes to see if he was really there beside me. But I knew he wouldn’t be. Not here. I didn’t want to spoil this moment so I kept my eyes tightly shut.

“You can open them, silly.” His voice was beautiful, husky.

“I don’t want to. You’re not really here and if I can’t see you I’ll be a mess.”

“Just open them,” he said softly. He lifted my bandaged hand then placed it back gently at my side.

I let my eyes open and settle on the brilliant light in front of me. I couldn’t see him. Oh, why did I listen? This was how it was going to be from now on, until it was my turn to follow. I might as well get used to it. But then the sun moved behind a cloud, shifting its light and I shook my head in disbelief.

“You’re here? You’re really here? How?”

I must have looked like an idiot, beaming uncontrollably in my blue-and-white hospital gown. Then it dawned on me and I was even more dumbstruck. Garreth was sitting on the edge of my bed wearing an identical hospital gown and looking incredible in it, in a way I never could. We both broke into laughter and he leaned over to kiss me.

“You’re real?” I think it was more of a question I was asking myself but it escaped me and I said it out loud.

“That’s some power you have. Even I had no idea of its strength.”

I just shook my head. I didn’t know what to say or ask.

Garreth continued, “It boiled down to one thing. Truth.”

He picked up my bandaged hand again. “To create unity within your spirit is a hard thing, but you managed.

You held what you believe in your heart, and never let it go. You never lost yourself. Even though you admit that a bit of darkness lures you, you never caved. Seeing through Hadrian was almost impossible and Mathur and the other Guardians are very proud of you.”

“But how can you be here with me? I thought you were gone forever. The fire…”